Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

Architecture: Volume Three

original: "Gongshi" (宮室). While literally "Palaces and Rooms," in this context, it refers to the broader category of architecture, including imperial, religious, and civic structures.

Compiled and Continued by Wang Siyi (Courtesy name: Yunmingfu) of Yunjian

Yunjian (雲間) is a literary name for Songjiang, an area in modern-day Shanghai. Wang Siyi was the son of the encyclopedia's primary compiler, Wang Qi.


Illustration of the Awakening and Opening	Illustration of the Imperial Academy	Illustration of the Imperial City	Illustration of the Streets and Bridges of Nanjing	Illustration of the Circular Mound Altar	Illustration of Temple Regulations
Illustration of the Walls of the Crown Prince's Palace	Illustration of the Temporary Palace for the Great Military Review	Illustration of the Temples and Monasteries of Nanjing	Illustration of the Government Offices of Nanjing	Illustration of the Square Mound Altar	Illustration of the Temple of the Benevolent Ancestor

The "Circular Mound Altar" (圜丘壇) was used for sacrifices to Heaven, while the "Square Mound Altar" (方丘壇) was used for sacrifices to the Earth, reflecting the ancient Chinese belief that Heaven is round and the Earth is square.

Imperial Academy (Taixue): The highest level of educational establishment in traditional China, where students prepared for the civil service examinations.

Great Military Review (Dayue): A massive imperial military exercise or parade used to demonstrate the strength of the Ming army.

Temple of the Benevolent Ancestor (Renzu Miao): An ancestral shrine dedicated to the early ancestors of the Ming imperial family.